Dry M4 bright sunshine, going westbound just after Junction 10 in lane 3 at 85mph on my bike. 2 cars in lane 2 at 70 mph about 50m apart, 1 further ahead in lane 1 as we pass the junction on ramp westbound. I'm just overtaking the 1st car in lane 2. OK ?
Maroon Vectra drives down on ramp, undertakes 1st car in lane 2 at a differential of 20-30mph then swings out behind me as he is unable to undertake the 2nd car in lane 2 due to the car in lane 1. He is now closer than 10m behind me at 85mph.
I have a choice : pull into lane 2 and brake hard to avoid the next car which is now < 50m away, carry on at 85mph with car tailgating me or add speed to pull in front of the next car in lane 2 at a safe distance.
I choose the latter option and am annoyed to see the Vectra match my speed 90,95,100 without dropping back at all and I go to pull in.
This is when he flips his blue lights on for a brief moment. Then sweeps past at 100 and proceeds to tailgate the next car with his blues off.
If he had stopped me it would have been my word against the 2 officers in the car and guess what would have happened ?
Surely they aren't allowed to drive like that ?
{Subject header slightly amended. DD}
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Maroon Vectra? Unmarked? Blues not bvious till lit? This is not normal plod, its a specialist unit on its way to whatever they have been called to attend.
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Maroon Vectra? Unmarked? Blues not bvious till lit? This is not normal plod, its a specialist unit on its way to whatever they have been called to attend.
The days of being able to spot the twin rear view mirrors, sign that lights up on the back shelf and extra aerials are gone now - you'd never recognise an unmarked police car in most areas these days.
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"The days of being able to spot the twin rear view mirrors, sign that lights up on the back shelf and extra aerials are gone now - you'd never recognise an unmarked police car in most areas these days."
I can - 99.9% of the time.
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"The days of being able to spot the twin rear view mirrors, sign that lights up on the back shelf and extra aerials are gone now - you'd never recognise an unmarked police car in most areas these days."
>>>> I can - 99.9% of the time.
You wouldn't have just 'made up that statistic on the spot' would you? :-)
Anyway, lets face it, if it charges up behind you, intent on pulling you over then it's too late to notice - even if it's obvious.
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BP, I only make up 76.33% of my statistics on the spot.
Seriously, I can spot them. There is something about the driving and general "body language" that gives them away. Even the way they are parked.
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If he was in *that* much of a hurry, I think he should have had his lights and siren on coming down the slip road. I suppose reporting him to the police wouldn't help...
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If he was in *that* much of a hurry, I think he should have had his lights and siren on coming down the slip road. I suppose reporting him to the police wouldn't help...
It might help........there are a few nutters out there who aren't really unmarked cops!
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What's he flashing the blues on for? To say "I'm allowed to do this and you're not"? No officer, you're not allowed to do that either.
And people wonder why the police are losing public support.
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It hasn't happened yet, but before it does, lets not let this thread degrade into another police bashing thread.
TIA. DD.
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It hasn't happened yet,
I spoke too soon. If it does, then the thread is being locked.
DD.
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To be fair, he may have been going to a job that to put the sirens on would alert the baddies.
You were doing 90 and he never pulled you over. Obviously there's something more important.
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Adam
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How true this is I don't know, but, I used to drink with TV Traffic sargeant, he told me the type of car you have described is usually an armed response vehicle. The reason we got into the discussion is because I had one do the same to me on the A34 at Oxford, but I carried on past the 100 mark until he flashed his lights, then he took off into the distance at well over 100. And although traffic cars are harder to spot now, they stillhave the camera in the windscreen where as the vectras don't if they are not traffic cars (normally)
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And, of course, there is the possibility that it wasn't a police car at all?
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But where would he get the blue lights from if hes not a cop? Halfords!
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I remember being given a lift back by a friend a few years ago who was a second hand car trader, and had recently bought a citroen which for some reason had a blue light with it. Going along the motorway at 100+ with the blue light and siren going and watching everyone move over was something i'll never forget.
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A vectra saloon is not suitable for use as an ARV. Not enougth room and would be well overweight.
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A vectra saloon is not suitable for use as an ARV. Not enougth room and would be well overweight.
I saw a picture in the Mirror yesterday (8th August) of armed police getting their guns out of the boot of a Vectra. It wasn't even the current model. It was the last one.
I'm sure that I also read somewhere that they prefer older cars because they don't look like police cars and are therefore less likely to be a target.
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Skoda Octavia VRS is the favourite in my area. I instinctively check if i'm doing anything i shouldn't if i spot one nowadays
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The met use Vectras as ARVs.
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National Crime Squad, I'd say it was.
Certainly not going to worry about YOU speeding on your bike.
But the Volvo following it, might have done, after carrying out a computer check, on the Vectras reg, before confirming it was one of theirs!!
VB
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I choose the latter option and am annoyed to see the Vectra match my speed 90,95,100 without dropping back at all and
Surely they aren't allowed to drive like that ?
Surely YOU aren't allowed to drive/ride like that?>>
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The ARVs around here tend to be Vectra estates and Galaxys.
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Adam
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We've rejected our Vectra estate. When fully loaded with kit, all feel is lost through the steering and the handling isn't too clever. Believe me, a 'normal' ARV carries an awful lot of kit.
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>> I choose the latter option and am annoyed to see the >> Vectra match my speed 90,95,100 without dropping back at all and >> Surely they aren't allowed to drive like that ? Surely YOU aren't allowed to drive/ride like that?>>
He explained his reasons for driving like that in his first post. He had three options, and he felt the SAFEST of these options was to accellerate, if you read his post again and try to view everything from his perspective you may tend to agree with him, I do.
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Sounds more like an escort (VIP close protection team?) protecting it's formation.
Might even be private security, they aren't really supposed to use blue lights. but get paid so much they aren't bothered about a £60 fine and then there are loopholes they can exploit.
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Unmarked Police Cars stick out like a sore thumb to me too
My local force (North Wales) have just put a very nice unmarked Volvo V70 into service, reg number begins CX05 - the same as the rest of the new additions marked or not.
It has very visible clear LED (blue when lit) lights behind the front grille and affixed to the inside of the rear window surround. Three roof aerials, one VHF at front and two UHF at the rear, same as all the marked fleet. Not very discreet at all IMHO.
PP
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Why do they need VHF and UHF? Is it to guarantee coverage over wide areas?
If you want obvious unmarked cars come to the USA.
Crown Vics or Impalas with driver spotlight and no wheel trims. Stand out a mile away - especially as very few people actually buy these cars, they mostly seem to be taxis or police.
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The Crown Vic. America's answer to the Vauxhall Omega in police car terms!
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Adam
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"Why do they need VHF and UHF? Is it to guarantee coverage over wide areas?"
It was for county and local (personal radio) respectively, but most forces are now using Tetra digital.
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Sounds more like an escort (VIP close protection team?) protecting it's formation
If it was Police vehicle, from this section, they actually have their own easily identifiable registrations....
eg X??? SEG (Special Escort Group)
Saves a computer check, for local officers!!
VB
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If it was Police vehicle, from this section, they actually have their own easily identifiable registrations.... eg X??? SEG (Special Escort Group) Saves a computer check, for local officers!!
Seriously?? Do the the MI6 cars have X??? SPY.
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LOL! Bill!
Not sure about SPY, but the number of vehicles we've sold, which were formerly 'covert' Police,
Home Office, DSS, Customs & Excise, that have easily identifiable registrations, from the stock specially held for them, it wouldn't be surprising!!
VB
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You learn something new every day!
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Adam
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